Sign inSign up freeRecent catches at Suisun Bay
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
Fishing Suisun Bay: what the data says
15,287-acre bay near Benicia. The water tops out around 75 ft. The depth chart is built from real NOAA hydrographic survey soundings (depths referenced to low tide), so the channels, holes and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Striped Bass fishing at Suisun Bay
Start shallow in spring: striped bass sit in 5 to 20 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 25 to 60 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 50 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 57 ft of water that rates prime for striped bass in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a flutter spoon (deep) or a umbrella rig (trolled) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Bucktail jig + trailer, Walking topwater (dawn) |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled) |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Topwater walker, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 20 to 50 ft | midday | Alabama rig (slow), Flutter spoon |
Channel Catfish fishing at Suisun Bay
Start shallow in spring: channel catfish sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. They move out to 8 to 25 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 40 ft. Shallow feeding flat is the standout, a feeding flat at roughly 14 ft, rated prime for summer channel catfish. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | midday |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 57 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 24 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 15 ft
- Shallow feeding flat: feeding flat, around 14 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 9 ft
- Marina / dock area: dock line, around 6 ft
- Old creek channel: creek channel, around 6 ft
- Shallow feeding flat: feeding flat, around 5 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 4 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 3 ft
- Creek inflow: inflow / creek mouth, around 2 ft
Common questions
How deep is Suisun Bay?
Suisun Bay is about 75 ft at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real NOAA hydrographic surveys (charted soundings referenced to low tide), so the contours reflect measured depths.
What fish are in Suisun Bay?
Anglers target channel catfish, striped bass on Suisun Bay.
Where is the best fishing spot on Suisun Bay?
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 57 ft of water that rates prime for striped bass in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Suisun Bay?
For striped bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Big Break · Franks Tract · San Pablo Bay · Bethany Reservoir · Clifton Court Forebay · Richardson Bay
See how Suisun Bay stacks up: best channel catfish lakes in California · best striped bass lakes in California
Browse all California fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA Office of Coast Survey (ENC soundings, MLLW datum). How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.